One-piece non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system

ABSTRACT

A one-piece non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system includes a channel or pouring spout to be connected to a food container. The spout has an inner surface to be contacted by contents of the container and the inner surface has a top edge. A seal prevents human contact with the inner surface of the channel or pouring spout. The seal has an outer periphery frangibly connected to the top edge. A tab permits unbroken, intact manual removal of the seal with one finger. A removable closure for the channel or pouring spout contacts the top edge before removal of the seal and after replacement of the removable closure. The tab does not extend above the top edge before removal of the closure and the seal. The channel or pouring spout, the seal and part of the tab are formed in one piece at the top edge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation-In-Part, under 35 U.S.C. §120, of copending application Ser. No. 11/242,765, filed Oct. 4, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to one-a piece, non-contaminating milk or food container seal and a seal removal system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Presently many containers, cardboard and plastic milk containers in particular, have a sealing system which requires the user to insert a finger down “inside” the neck of the entrance channel or pouring spout and hook onto a loop for traction, to break a container seal. The seal is then discarded and the cap reapplied.

The damage, however, has already been done. The same fingers used the bathroom, wiped the nose, shook hands or handled money. Those contaminated fingers have now touched the “inner” surface of the milk or food container entrance channel or pouring spout.

A contaminated finger must reach down into the entrance channel, neck, or pouring spout to hook and pull the ring attached to the seal in order to break the seal and open the container. The seal is critical to protecting the previous sterility and continuing safety of the contained milk or food substance, i.e. orange or apple juice. The inner surface of the neck, entrance channel or pouring spout you reach into, is an interior surface part of a container compartment space to be contacted by the milk or other food.

The contaminated finger tip drags up the inner surface of this internal space as it hooks and recovers the ring to pull, break, and remove the seal.

This simple unprotected act deposits bacteria and other contamination within the neck compartment, entrance channel or pouring spout, which is enclosed under the sealing cap, a contiguous and continuous part of the milk or food containing space.

The present milk or food container seal and seal removal system makes the deposit and trapping of bacteria or other types of contamination within the milk or food containment area “unavoidable”. The bacteria are transported and left inside the container, violating all rules of sterile technique. To make it worse, the cap is then reapplied, trapping the bacteria and milk within the same compartment.

As milk or other foodstuffs drip back down the entrance channel or pouring spout, bacteria and other contamination drip into, and mix with the residual stored milk or food. Milk is specially treated because of its susceptibility to bacterial growth. There are precise laws governing sterilizing temperatures, heat duration, rapid cooling and finally sterile, sealed, packaging under acute tolerances. The reason again, for all of the special preparation and sterile technique is because milk is especially susceptible to multiple bacterial growths.

Milk is a biological substance with fat, sugar, and water. Milk is a nutrient media and a natural culture media. Almost all bacteria thrive in milk. Refrigeration only slows or delays bacterial growth, it does not prevent the growth, nor kill bacteria. Milk spoils slowly in spite of refrigeration, and as bacteria further adapt, refrigeration will be even less helpful at preventing food contamination and food poisoning. It is inconceivable after all of these protective safety steps of processing to protect the consumer, that the milk or other foodstuffs are still packaged in a container system that almost “guarantees” contamination from the instant of opening. The prior art, seems not only disinterested in consumer safety, but actually sets up a sequence of actions and designs that “cause” rather than prevent, contamination. The prior art actually sets a “booby trap” for the unsuspecting consumer. The presently used construction is clearly negligent.

Prior art container closures have two or more parts, making them complicated and expensive to construct and assemble. In addition, they often have seals with pull tabs which extend above the upper edge of the container neck, thus increasing the height of the assembled container and closure. Such closures also permit contamination since a person's fingers will inevitably touch the lip and/or other parts of the container neck when grasping and lifting the tab and seal disc.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,738 to Bietzer et al. provides such a closure, in which a container neck 22 has a lip 24 with an upper edge and a seal disc 78 with a pull tab 80. The seal disc 78 and the pull tab 80 are completely disposed above the upper edge of the lip 24 of the container neck 22. This occurs because the seal disc 78 is placed in a cap 21 and glued to the lip 24 when the cap is screwed on the container neck 22. When two fingers are used to lift the tab, which is at the outer edge of the lip, they will touch the lip leading to contamination which will grow when the cap is replaced. A similar system in which a tab and seal are carried by a cap before assembly and therefore must extend above an upper edge of a neck after assembly, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,845 to Blanchard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a one-piece non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type that cause contamination of the milk or other food in a container when opening the seal, in such a way that a one-piece seal does not extend above an upper edge of a pour spout.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a one-piece non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system, comprising a channel or pouring spout to be connected to a food container. The channel or pouring spout has an inner surface to be contacted by contents of the container and the inner surface has a top edge. A seal prevents human contact with the inner surface of the channel or pouring spout. The seal has an outer periphery disposed and frangibly formed at the top edge. A tab permits unbroken, intact manual removal of the seal with one finger. A removable closure for the channel or pouring spout contacts the top edge before removal of the seal and after replacement of the removable closure. The tab does not extend above the top edge before removal of the closure and the seal. The channel or pouring spout, the seal and part of the tab are formed in one piece at the top edge. Thus, the seal according to the invention renders it impossible for there to be any contact between the finger of the user and any surfaces to be contacted by food. A closure is not necessary for single-use containers, such as a personal size milk container. The seal is a primary enclosure and the cap is a secondary enclosure.

The placement of the seal at the very top of the channel or pouring spout means that the entire inner surface of the channel or pouring spout is inaccessible.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the tab is an extraction ring attached to the seal. Such a ring is quite easy to be hooked by a finger for removal.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the seal is cup-shaped. The concave shape of the seal facilitates grasping and extraction of the tab or ring.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the seal completely covers the inner surface before removal of the seal. In this way, no surfaces which come into contact with food can be contacted by a non-sterile object such as a human finger.

In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the outer periphery of the seal is “thin link” fused to or cast with the top edge of the channel or pouring spout. This line of weakness extends circumferentially of the receptacle mouth or spout. This separation line facilitates tearing of the seal from the channel or pouring spout.

In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the closure is a cap, which is preferably to be screwed onto the channel or pouring spout.

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the seal is formed of flexible plastic, which makes it easy to remove.

In accordance with again another feature of the invention, the seal, said tab and an inner surface of said closure are all in contact with and do not extend above said top edge. This feature is provided in order to prevent contamination before and during said removal of said seal.

In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the tab is a ring having a periphery directly attached to said seal at one location for tearing said seal off said top edge.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the channel or pouring spout has an outer surface with a top edge. The inner and outer surfaces of said channel or pouring spout, said seal and part of said tab are formed in one piece at said top edge. The height of the system is thus at a minimum since the top edge of the spout is the top of the system.

The new seal and seal removal system according to the invention controls and maintains a sterile technique for seal breaking and seal removal. This simple, easy to use, and failsafe system, even when operated by the untrained consumer, keeps contamination totally contained within the seal and discards bacteria within the seal. The entrance channel or pouring spout is never touched, and sterile technique is maintained before, during and after opening the seal. The milk or food is protected.

The improvement according to the invention provides a milk or foodstuffs sealing device that is removed, in a simple but sterile manner, by the untrained operator.

The normally exposed inner surface of the entrance or pouring spout is totally covered and protected. The seal junction is raised from near the bottom of the channel or pouring spout, to the top lip of the spout. A deep dished-out or cup-shaped area is developed within the body of the seal, with the extraction ring or loop still attached, at the top.

The finger is inserted as before, in a simple and intuitive way to hook the extraction ring or loop, but now because of the unique concave structure of the seal, all areas touched by the contaminated finger are now contained within the seal (outside the container) which is then discarded. At no time is any interior surface exposed before, during or after the seal is broken or removed. Sterility is maintained even by the untrained. Bacteria are excluded and safety is maintained.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a one-piece, non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, exploded, perspective view of a prior art milk or food container seal and seal removal system, along with a cap and an entrance channel or pouring spout;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the prior art milk or food container seal and seal removal system and the entrance channel or pouring spout, in the assembled condition with a seal extraction ring in a partly extracted position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the entrance channel or pouring spout with a contaminated contact area according to the prior art;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the entrance channel or pouring spout with the contaminated contact area according to the prior art and the cap about to be replaced, after removal of the seal and seal removal system;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing potential bacterial growth on the contaminated contact area according to the prior art, on the entrance channel or pouring spout;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a one-piece, non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system according to the invention having a seal extraction ring in a partly extracted position and a seal still in place at the entrance channel or pouring spout;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system according to the invention, with the seal extraction ring and seal removed from the entrance channel or pouring spout and clearly showing the area of potential contamination being removed and discarded with the seal;

FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of the cap, the clean, non-contaminated entrance channel or pouring spout, and the discarded seal extraction ring and seal (with its contained contamination), of the non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a vertical-sectional view of the non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system according to the invention with the cap removed and the pull tab not extending above the upper edge of the pour spout; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, in which the pull tab has automatically popped-up after removing the cap or has been pulled up for removal of the seal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a conventional entrance channel or pouring spout 1, which is attached at a bottom rim 2 thereof to an opening at the top of a milk or food container 12. A cap 10 has a non-illustrated internal thread which is to be screwed onto an external thread 3 of the channel or pouring spout 1. A prior art milk or food container seal and seal removal system includes a disk-shaped seal 4 having an outer periphery which is connected to an inner surface 5 of the channel or pouring spout 1 at a level 6. More specifically, the seal 4 is fused or cast onto the lower one-quarter of the channel or pouring spout 1. An extraction ring 7 is connected to the seal 4. The ring 7 is hooked by the finger for tearing and extracting the seal 4 from the channel or pouring spout 1, thus breaking the sterile seal of the container.

FIG. 2 shows the seal 4, the ring 7 and the channel or pouring spout 1 having the inner surface 5, which is susceptible to contamination. The ring 7 has been pulled up and partly extracted from the channel or pouring spout 1. When the finger hooks the ring 7, it touches and contaminates the ring and a contact area 8 of the inner surface 5, as is indicated in FIGS. 2-4 by shading.

As is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4, after the ring 7 and with it the seal 4 have been discarded, the contact area 8 and the remainder of the inner surface 5 are covered by the cap 10. It is seen from FIG. 5 that bacterial growth 9 has been formed on the contact area 8. The bacterial growth 9 contaminates the liquid in the container 12 when the container is tilted for pouring and that contamination spreads throughout the liquid in the container when the container is returned to its upright position.

FIG. 6 illustrates the one-piece non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system according to the invention. The entrance channel or pouring spout 1 has the bottom rim 2 to be attached to an opening at the top of a milk or food container 12, the external thread 3 onto which an internal thread of a cap 10 is to be screwed and the inner surface 5, which are identical to that of the prior art as shown in FIGS. 1-5. However, the pouring spout 1 also has a rolled upper portion 13 with an upper or top edge 16. Instead of connecting a seal to the lower one-quarter of the inner surface 5 of the channel or pouring spout 1 as in the prior art, a seal 14 according to the invention has top or upper portion 15 with an outer periphery which is frangibly connected, i.e. thin-link fused or cast, to the upper portion or top edge 13 and the inner surface 5 of the channel or pouring spout 1 at a line of weakness at the inner surface 5. Thus, the edge 16 is the upper or top edge of the upper portion 13 and the inner surface 5 of the pouring spout 1 and well as an outer edge of the seal 14. Furthermore, instead of using a disk-shaped seal as in the prior art, the seal 14 is cup-shaped or concave, as seen from above. It is also noted that it is not necessary to provide a closure or cap and consequently the threads, if the container is a single-use or personal-size container to be completely emptied immediately and discarded.

FIG. 7 shows the seal 14 after it has been removed from the channel or pouring spout 1 by using a tab 17. The tab 17 may have the shape of an extraction ring or any other shape suitable to be manually grasped and has a periphery directly attached to the seal with a live or living hinge 19 at one location for tearing the seal off the top edge. The cup shape of the seal 14 can be clearly seen as well as the inner surface 5 of the channel or pouring spout 1. FIG. 7 also shows a contact area 18 which is touched by the finger of the user of the seal and seal removal system as the tab or ring 17 is being hooked for removal of the seal 14. The finger of the user cannot touch any part of the spout 1 when pulling the tab 17. It is noted that the contact area 18 is exclusively on the seal 14 which is to be discarded and not on the inner surface 5 of the channel or pouring spout 1. Therefore, there is no exposure of the contents of the container to the contaminated and non-sterile contact area 18 and bacteria cannot reach the liquid within the container.

FIG. 8 illustrates the channel or pouring spout 1 after removal of the seal 14, the discarded seal 14 and the cap 10 to be screwed onto the channel or pouring spout 1 in the direction of the arrow. Thus, the seal 14 may be referred to as a primary seal or enclosure and the cap or closure 10 may be referred to as a secondary seal or enclosure.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the live or living hinge 19 of the pull tab 17, the seal 14 and the spout 1 having the inner surface 5. It is also seen that in the one-piece container seal and removal system, the edge 16 simultaneously forms the upper or top edge of the upper portion 13, the upper or top edge of the inner surface 5 and the outer edge of the seal 14. An inner surface of the closure or cap 10 directly touches the edge 16 before removal of the seal 14.

This permits the system to have a minimum height since no part of the system is above the top edge of the inner surface 5 of the spout. The tab 17 is also remote from the upper portion 13 so that when the finger of a user is placed under the tab 17, it is prevented from touching the upper portion 13 and other parts of the spout 1.

FIG. 10 shows the pull tab 17 in a raised position, as a result of the pull tab having automatically popped-up after removing the cap 10 or having been pulled up for removal of the seal. 

1. A one-piece non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system, comprising: a channel or pouring spout to be connected to a food container, said channel or pouring spout having an inner surface to be contacted by contents of the container, said inner surface having a top edge; a seal preventing human contact with said inner surface of said channel or pouring spout, said seal having an outer periphery disposed at said top edge; a tab permitting unbroken, intact manual removal of said seal with one finger; a removable closure for said channel or pouring spout contacting said top edge before removal of said seal and after replacement of said removable closure; said tab not extending above said top edge before removal of said closure and said seal; and said channel or pouring spout, said seal and part of said tab being formed in one piece at said top edge.
 2. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 1, wherein said tab is an extraction ring attached to said seal.
 3. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 1, wherein said seal is cup-shaped.
 4. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 1, wherein said seal completely covers and completely prevents contact with said inner surface before and during removal of said seal.
 5. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 3, wherein said outer periphery of said seal is fused to or cast with said top edge of said channel or pouring spout at a line of weakness.
 6. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 2, wherein said closure is a cap.
 7. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 6, wherein said cap is to be screwed onto said channel or pouring spout.
 8. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 1, wherein said seal is formed of flexible plastic.
 9. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 1, wherein said seal, said tab and an inner surface of said closure are all in contact with and do not extend above said top edge, in order to prevent contamination before and during said removal of said seal.
 10. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 1, wherein said tab is a ring having a periphery directly attached to said seal at one location for tearing said seal off said top edge.
 11. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 6, wherein said seal is a primary enclosure and said cap is a secondary enclosure.
 12. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 1, wherein said channel or pouring spout has an outer surface with a top edge, said inner and outer surfaces of said channel or pouring spout, said seal and part of said tab being formed in one piece at said top edge.
 13. The one-piece container seal and seal removal system according to claim 1, wherein said seal is frangibly connected to said top edge.
 14. A one-piece non-contaminating milk or food container seal and seal removal system, comprising: a channel or pouring spout to be connected to a food container, said channel or pouring spout having an inner surface to be contacted by contents of the container, said inner surface having a top edge; a seal preventing human contact with said inner surface of said channel or pouring spout, said seal having an outer periphery disposed at said top edge; and a tab permitting unbroken, intact manual removal of said seal with one finger; and said channel or pouring spout, said seal and part of said tab being formed in one piece at said top edge. 